HELENA – The Montana State Capitol is looking and smelling a lot more like the holidays.
A crew of 10 spent Friday setting up a Christmas tree in the rotunda.
It takes a lot of equipment, about seven bins of ornaments, and 10 to 12 strands of lights to get the tree picture-perfect.
It also takes some Treasure State teamwork.
According to general services administrator Steve Baiamonte, the 30-foot Douglas Fir is from Deer Creek in Lewis and Clark County.
Lincoln-based Wayne Sherill Logging harvested the tree, donated by the McDonald Family Ranch in Canyon Creek.
“This is the people’s house,” said Baiamonte. “Traditionally, people like to put in a tree for the holidays. Secondly, because we’re an agricultural and timber state, it’s something really cool we can do to showcase a really important industry in Montana.”
Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney even helped hang a few ornaments Friday afternoon.
Spent the day after Thanksgiving adding some holiday cheer to Montana’s beautiful State Capitol. pic.twitter.com/oXBqBI3jev
— Mike Cooney (@LtGovMikeCooney) November 23, 2018
Baiamonte says the tree will stay put until the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
It will be mulched once it’s taken down.
Story by Evelyn Schultz, MTN News
